High energy vortices generation by volume phase holograms and breaking into spiraling beams in air

The generation of high power vortices by using volume phase holographic elements is reported. The overall transmission of the vortex generation system is around 20% for lambda=800 nm, because of the difference between recording wavelength (lambda=633 nm) and the reconstruction one. Experimental evolution of transversal profile of intensity when the vortex is focused loosely in air showed the vortex splitting into two beams, which rotate around the vortex center.